They each control various cities in Mexico and along the US-Mexico border. As part of this report, we will discuss the Gulf Cartel. The Gulf Cartel is one of the major organized crime organizations in Mexico whose primary interest is drug trafficking, with its main operations in Nuevo Laredo, Miguel Alemán, Reynosa, and Matamoros (Brophy, 2008). Although the Gulf Cartel is powerful enough with its large number of supporters, locations of operations and weapons, it also works with another group called the Zetas. The Zetas can be classified as a mafia-like group specializing in one type of product, and in this case the product is protection (Brophy, 2008). They defend the Gulf Cartel and their territory, also act as their hitmen and assassins, and engage in kidnapping, arms trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, and payment collection ( Brophy, 2008). While these two powerful groups control many areas of Mexico, the drug trafficking community is intense and violent, and cities often suffer disastrous consequences when in conflict with these groups. The illegality of the drug trade is largely linked to the extreme violence between drug cartels and law enforcement (Brophy, 2008). The Gulf Cartel and the Zetas are not only powerful because of their weapons and violence, but they also have great influence, particularly politically, and this will be discussed in more detail in the report. As the Gulf Cartel is just one of many threats facing Mexico, the country is also affected in many other ways, not only by the cartels, but also by the United States.